The population of wild tigers in the world is rising for the first time in 100 years, says conservation groups World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Global Tiger Forum (GTF).
More specifically, the number has been changed to 3,890 based on best available information.
"For the first time after decades of constant decline, tiger numbers are on the rise," says WWF International's Marco Lambertini. He adds that this development sparks a great hope and exhibits that species can be saved if governments, local groups and conservationists work together.
Leap In Number
The new figure of tiger population is based on the results of latest national tiger surveys and data from the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
The data reveals that the number leaped from a 2010 estimate saying that the wild tiger population is only as few as 3,200. The rise is accounted to various factors including better surveys, improved population protection and increase of tiger numbers in India, Nepal, Russia and Bhutan.
Aligning With Goals
The findings of wild tiger population increase were released just a day before the 3rd Asia Ministerial Conference on Tiger Conservation in New Delhi, India.
The conference is the latest action of the Global Tiger Initiative scheme that started way back in 2010 during the annual Tiger Summit in Russia. During that meeting, government leaders concurred with the Tx2 program, which aims to double the population of wild tigers by the year 2022 – a vision that a recent study said is definitely possible
Rajesh Gopal of the Global Tiger Forum says the 2016 meeting is a critical one, occurring halfway through the Tx2 objective. Tiger governments will identify the next actions to achieve the ultimate guarantee that the future of Asia will comprise of wild tigers.
The meeting will run for three days, with nations tasked to report their progress toward achieving the Tx2 goal, as well as their next steps.
Still A Long Way To Go
Despite the positive news now, experts say wild tiger population still has a long way to go.
Michael Baltzer, head of the WWF Tx2 Tiger Initiative, says a firm action plan is important in the next six years. He adds that although the global population decline has stopped, there is still no safe place for the species.
For example, Southeast Asia faces an unavoidable risk of extinguishing its tigers if governments do not act promptly. For nations to ensure that their tigers are protected, they need to know the numbers and the threats their tigers face.
